Upzoning: A Big Land Grab

To the Editor,

I am a co-owner of property in the Riverside section on Lake Zoar. The Zoning Board’s proposed upzoning proposal is of great concern to me. As I analyze this to become a big land grab, rather than protecting the aquifer or anything else so propertied in their claim. This should be a concern for all Newtown residences, not just the ones affected by the upzoning. Who is to say the other two-thirds of properties not in re-zoning now will not someday be arbitrarily up-zoned, if this is not corrected now.

Where are the tests or engineering data to prove the board’s claims for this proposal? For some time in my immediate area, we are told that our wells are being polluted by our neighbors’ septic. However, when my neighbors’ water has been tested, on their own initiative mind you, none shows signs of this contamination. Maybe in some areas it might be happening, maybe only a few wells is this happening. Who is to say without tests? Would this not have to be handled on an individual basis, after gaining the engineering results?

How does a swipe of a magical pen that upzoned all these properties on paper stop any of this from happening? It does not. It would only make it easier for the bureaucracies to claim a non-conforming situation and condemn the property(s). Hence, the big land grab, of at least the lake communities, as they are most susceptible to being in a non-conforming situation.

It would appear that the Planning and Zoning Board uses little if any logic in their thinking. Would not holding tanks be a solution to septic systems that can’t function properly? What happened to the other phases of the sewer project? Even where running the sewer isn’t practical, the holding tank idea can be used. There appear to be many other options available, than to affect 2,500 pieces of property, most of which are developed and occupied.

Owning property has been one of the basic rights in the founding of this county. Why do I feel that my rights as an owner are being invaded by this upzoning, possibly for evil purposes? It appears that the Newtown Property Owners Association is our only organized voice to oppose the upzoning.

Cameron Richardson

Easton, CT                                               April 2, 2000